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Hot and comforting with a satisfying crunch, air fryer chicken mozzarella sticks are amazing. This game day appy will definitely remind you why you love the air fryer so much! This tasty air fryer appetizer is easy to make with ground chicken and mozzarella sticks. You can also call them mozzarella stick chicken fries but whatever the name, know that they are addictive!
Italian breadcrumbs and Italian seasoning add a touch of Italy to these ground chicken and mozzarella sticks. They are perfect served with marinara sauce on the side for dipping.
Looking for more appetizer ideas? You might like these everything bagel beer dogs or how about egg rolls with firecracker sauce? Bloody Mary deviled eggs are also irresistible! And so are smoked brats in beer and BBQ chicken nachos.
Air Fryer Chicken Mozzarella Sticks Ingredients
The chicken mixture which encloses the cheese calls for ground chicken, egg, Italian breadcrumbs, garlic, parsley, salt, and pepper. You could sub ground turkey instead of the chicken for a very similar taste.
You need all-purpose flour for dredging, a cream and egg mixture to stick to the floured chicken and then a panko and breadcrumb mixture to coat the mozzarella stick chicken fries.
Directions for Making this Air Fryer Appetizer
First of all, combine the chicken with an egg, some breadcrumbs, garlic, and seasonings. Mix it until everything is distributed pretty much evenly. Now you can wrap some of this mixture around mozzarella sticks cut in half lengthwise.
Wrap these in plastic then keep the refrigerated. This helps the chicken mixture stick to the mozzarella because you won’t want these ground chicken and mozzarella sticks falling apart in the air fryer!
Once the mozzarella stick chicken fries are nice and cold, you’re going to be coating them, so plan this ahead. You will need to put flour and garlic salt in one dish, whisked cream and egg in another and then panko and Italian breadcrumbs in a third.
Dredge the air fryer chicken mozzarella sticks in the flour mixture and then the egg mixture and finally the crumbs.
When I do this, I find it easier to use one hand for the dry dipping then the other for the egg mixture and then once they have the crumb coating on I can again use the ‘dry’ hand to press the crumbs in. Everyone has their own favourite method for dredging and dipping so do whatever works for you.
Now your game day appy is prepared you can cook the air fryer chicken mozzarella sticks in the air fryer until golden brown. I usually slice one in half at this point just to double-check the chicken is cooked through.
Wondering what to dip mozzarella sticks in? This air fryer appetizer is great served with marinara sauce and can be paired with other appies like homemade chicken nuggets or air fryer pizza rolls.
How to Store Leftovers
One of the best things about this game day appy is how well they reheat. Simply pop the air fryer chicken mozzarella sticks back into the air fryer and the inside will stay moist and warm up which the coating stays crunchy. So if you were wondering whether to make a double batch, you totally should.
You could also warm them back up in the oven if you have it on for something else. I wouldn’t recommend the microwave for this because then they will get a bit soggy.
Other Dipping Options
Not a fan of marinara? Any other dipping sauce would be good with mozzarella stick chicken fries. For something creamy consider Caesar or ranch dressing or warm alfredo sauce for alternate mozzarella sticks dip options. Blue cheese dressing would work if you want an extra cheese hit. No such thing as too much cheese, right?
Anything else from ketchup or mustard to Frank’s Red Hot would be great for dipping a chicken cheese stick. If you do like spice, these ground chicken and mozzarella sticks can be dipped in marinara which you have previously livened up with hot sauce!
Mozzarella Stick Chicken Fries FAQs
Mozzarella is typically used for cheese sticks because it holds its shape and stretches out when it melts but you can use another kind of cheese if you prefer, such as pepper jack for example. It’s easier to use readymade cheese sticks than cut your own cheese but you can also do that if there is a particular kind of cheese you want to try for this air fryer appetizer.
It’s important to let the ground chicken and mozzarella sticks chill in the refrigerator because this helps the coating adhere and stay on during cooking. Also, let the egg mixture drip off before pressing the chicken sticks into the panko breadcrumb mixture. You can also refrigerate this air fryer appetizer after breading and before cooking, so the layers can solidify a little and are even less likely to flake off.
Air Fryer Chicken Mozzarella Sticks with Marinara Dip Recipe
Air Fryer Chicken Mozzarella Sticks with Marinara Dip
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 Pounds ground chicken
- 1/2 Teaspoon salt
- 1/2 Teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 Teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 4 eggs, large, divided
- 1 Cup bread crumbs, Italian, divided
- 1 Tablespoon parsley, chopped
- 1 1/2 Teaspoon garlic, minced, approx. 4 garlic cloves
- 9 cheese sticks , mozzarella
- 1 Cup all purpose flour
- 2 Teaspoon garlic salt
- 1/4 Cup heavy cream
- 1 Cup panko
- 1 Cup marinara sauce
Instructions
- Combine ground chicken, salt, red pepper flakes, Italian seasoning, 1 egg, ½ cup Italian bread crumbs, parsley, and minced garlic in a mixing bowl. Thoroughly mix.
- Cut cheese sticks in half down the length.
- Lay a sheet of plastic wrap over a plate. Remove ¼ cup of the ground chicken and place onto the plastic wrap. Lightly flatten ground chicken with a spoon and form into a rectangle. *Lay a cheese stick next to the chicken as you work to aid in measuring. You will want the chicken to be slightly longer than the cheese.*
- Place the cheese stick into the center. Use the plastic wrap to wrap the cheese with the chicken. *Twist both ends of the plastic wrap in opposite directions to tightly seal the chicken around the cheese stick and help it to hold its shape. Place onto a baking sheet and store in the fridge as you work.*
- Repeat steps 3 and 4 with remaining chicken and cheese sticks.
- Prepare a dredging station. In a shallow dish, combine flour and garlic salt. Add whisked eggs and heavy cream to a second dish. In a third shallow dish, combine remaining Italian bread crumbs and panko bread crumbs.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F.
- Dredge the chicken in the flour, then the eggs, after excess eggs have dropped off roll each stick in the bread crumbs. Press crumbs gently to adhere.
- Lightly spray the air fryer basket with nonstick cooking spray. Arrange chicken sticks in a single layer. Cook for 12 minutes, stopping once halfway through to turn
- Serve with marinara sauce as dip and garnish with parsley.
Nutrition
Whether you make these air fryer chicken cheese sticks as a game day appy or a snack, you’ll love them. The marinara sauce is the perfect dipping sauce for mozzarella sticks! If you are looking for a shortcut version, you may like these air fryer chicken fries.
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Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
We’re big cheese lovers at home, and when I make this, there won’t be any leftovers.
This dish was a hit with the family! Seems like we’ve found our new go-to recipe.
My family loved this recipe so much!! I’ll make this again soon!
These were even better than I expected
Don’t look at another air fryer recipe for cheese sticks. Like seriously just don’t, this one is perfect!!! You won’t need another
These were really good and my little ones loved them too
I have never had these with chicken. They sound amazing. I can’t wait to try in my new air fryer. loving it so far